Explaining the Inverted "T" Shapes on Sopwith Aircraft

What are the inverted white "T" shapes so often visible on Sopwith aircraft? Wonder no more.
Sopwith Camel Build Log: • Explaining the Inverte...
Sources:
1. Royal Air Force Museum in collaboration with Cross & Cockade International. (2012). The Sopwith Dolphin in RFC, RNAS, RAF & Polish Service.
2. Sturtivant, R., & Page, G. (1993). The Camel File. Air-Britain.
3. Robertson, B. (1956). Aircraft Camouflage and Markings, 1907-1954. Harleyford Publications.
Music: Allemande / Wahneta Meixsell

[@SteamCrane]

I have no idea why I should care about such an obscure detail, but I do.

[@dxmodelworks]

It shows your level of interest. Welcome to the club!

[@EleanorPeterson]

If I had any friends I'd be able to amaze them with this latest bit of information and impress them with my depth of knowledge. But I haven't. So I can't. And I won't. 🤭

[@bobbylee2853]

Incomparable Bach.❤

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Fascinating! I've been interested in WW1 aviation since the 50th Anniversary of the war in the 1960s and this is the first I've heard about that particular marking. (In all honesty I've never really paid attention to it! ) Great work on the model, and thanks for posting!

[@dxmodelworks]

Thank you for watching!

[@Niinsa62]

That was really interesting, I had noticed those, but never saw anything anywhere about what it meant.

[@denniskorn9003]

Very interesting... Thanks

[@mothmagic1]

Anyone who knows a bit about airframes knows that the inverted T indicates trestle points on the bottom.of the fuselage for supporting the aircraft when you need to work on the undercarriage or otherwise work on the aircraft with the weight off the undercarriage.

[@EleanorPeterson]

Wait a mo... Support points, yes. But aren't they usually low down on the airframe (where they're needed) and not right up on top of it, hidden from below by the curve of the fuselage? And why would they be hand-painted on the fin/rudder, where they're also obscured from below by the tailplane? And why would they have doping and finishing data on them? With respect, I think we're discussing two different things, here.🤔

[@kmc6-06]

Didn't know, thankyou

[@tedsmith6137]

Well, the s/n and doping info is fine, the question is why there is a white square above it.

[@6thmichcav262]

That’s the QR code. They knew all about it and just kept it a secret.

[@dxmodelworks]

😂

[@dxmodelworks]

@tedsmith6137 It appears the square was reserved for a stamp from the Aeronautical Inspection Department (AID). It’s basically an airworthiness stamp. In most photos the square is empty or the entire “T” shape has been painted over, so I’m not sure how often the AID data was actually placed there. I’m still working to confirm this.

[@jill-ti7oe]

Biplanes and Bach; nice. 🙂